Astronomy (Dragonland album)
Encyclopedia
Astronomy is the fourth studio album by Swedish power metal
band Dragonland
, released in Europe on November 13, 2006 and in North America on November 28, 2006. While their third album Starfall focused heavily on keyboards and had a more upbeat lyrical tone, according to guitarist Olof Mörck, Astronomy is "gloomier, more stygian and packed with crunching guitars; both furiously fast and bone-grindingly heavy."
As suggested with the album title, many of the songs on the album are based around space subjects:
Another point of interest is the song "Beethoven's Nightmare" which intertwines heavy guitar riffs and classical piano melodies to tell the story of Beethoven
writing a symphony about a tragedy that is consuming his life, while he laments about being deaf and wishing he could hear a sound "that could open my mind".
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Dragonland
Dragonland
Dragonland is a power metal musical group from Sweden. The group is most notable for basing their two first albums upon the self-produced The Dragonland Chronicles fantasy saga and for the original symphonic/electronic parts by Elias Holmlid...
, released in Europe on November 13, 2006 and in North America on November 28, 2006. While their third album Starfall focused heavily on keyboards and had a more upbeat lyrical tone, according to guitarist Olof Mörck, Astronomy is "gloomier, more stygian and packed with crunching guitars; both furiously fast and bone-grindingly heavy."
Track listing
All music written by Dragonland unless otherwise noted- "Supernova" – 5:09 (Featuring Elize Ryd of AmarantheAmarantheAmaranthe is a power metal/melodic death metal band that originates from Sweden and Denmark. Formed by Jake E and Olof Mörck , the project began taking shape when singers Elize Ryd and Andreas Solvestrom , signed on, as did drummer Morten Løwe Sørensen...
) - "Cassiopeia" – 4:06 (Featuring Elize Ryd of AmarantheAmarantheAmaranthe is a power metal/melodic death metal band that originates from Sweden and Denmark. Formed by Jake E and Olof Mörck , the project began taking shape when singers Elize Ryd and Andreas Solvestrom , signed on, as did drummer Morten Løwe Sørensen...
) (Solo by Marios Ilipoulos of NightrageNightrageNightrage is a Greek/Swedish melodic death metal band formed by guitarist Marios Iliopoulos and his close friend Gus G. who later re-located to Gothenburg, Sweden.-Sweet Vengeance:...
) - "Contact" – 4:25
- "Astronomy" – 3:20 (Featuring Jake E of Dreamland/AmarantheAmarantheAmaranthe is a power metal/melodic death metal band that originates from Sweden and Denmark. Formed by Jake E and Olof Mörck , the project began taking shape when singers Elize Ryd and Andreas Solvestrom , signed on, as did drummer Morten Løwe Sørensen...
) - "Antimatter" – 3:00 (Featuring Jimmie Strimmel of Dead by AprilDead by AprilDead by April is a Swedish metal band from Gothenburg, formed in February 2007. The band consists of Jimmie Strimell, Zandro Santiago, Marcus Wesslén and Alex Svenningsson. They released their self-titled debut album in May 2009. In 2010 the two guitarists, Pontus Hjelm and Johan Olsson, left the...
/ex-NightrageNightrageNightrage is a Greek/Swedish melodic death metal band formed by guitarist Marios Iliopoulos and his close friend Gus G. who later re-located to Gothenburg, Sweden.-Sweet Vengeance:...
) - "The Book of Shadows Part IV: The Scrolls of Geometria Divina" – 4:04
- "Beethoven's Nightmare" – 6:11
- "Too Late for Sorrow" – 3:36 (Featuring Elize Ryd of AmarantheAmarantheAmaranthe is a power metal/melodic death metal band that originates from Sweden and Denmark. Formed by Jake E and Olof Mörck , the project began taking shape when singers Elize Ryd and Andreas Solvestrom , signed on, as did drummer Morten Løwe Sørensen...
& Jake E of Dreamland/AmarantheAmarantheAmaranthe is a power metal/melodic death metal band that originates from Sweden and Denmark. Formed by Jake E and Olof Mörck , the project began taking shape when singers Elize Ryd and Andreas Solvestrom , signed on, as did drummer Morten Løwe Sørensen...
) - "Direction: Perfection" – 4:29 (Featuring Jimmie Strimmel of Dead by AprilDead by AprilDead by April is a Swedish metal band from Gothenburg, formed in February 2007. The band consists of Jimmie Strimell, Zandro Santiago, Marcus Wesslén and Alex Svenningsson. They released their self-titled debut album in May 2009. In 2010 the two guitarists, Pontus Hjelm and Johan Olsson, left the...
/ex-NightrageNightrageNightrage is a Greek/Swedish melodic death metal band formed by guitarist Marios Iliopoulos and his close friend Gus G. who later re-located to Gothenburg, Sweden.-Sweet Vengeance:...
) - "The Old House on the Hill Chapter I: A Death in the Family" – 4:30
- "The Old House on the Hill Chapter II: The Thing in the Cellar" – 3:08
- "The Old House on the Hill Chapter III: The Ring of Edward Waldon" – 6:18
- Japanese Bonus Tracks:
- 13. "Intuition" (TNTTNT (band)TNT is a Norwegian hard rock/glam metal band from Trondheim, formed in 1982. The band has released twelve studio albums, three EPs and two live albums while going through numerous line-up changes since its formation...
Cover) – 4:15 - 14. "The Last Word" – 4:12
Lyrical references
In a February 2007 interview with Metal Reviews, guitarist Olof Mörck went into details about some of musical and lyrical influences in Astronomy:- Olof and Elias Holmlid were inspired to write the "The Old House on the Hill" trilogy by listening to film scores, and they attributed this trilogy to Danny ElfmanDanny ElfmanDaniel Robert "Danny" Elfman is an American composer, best known for scoring music for television and film. Up until 1995, he was the lead singer and songwriter in the rock band Oingo Boingo, a group he formed in 1976...
, probably most famously known for his Tim BurtonTim BurtonTimothy William "Tim" Burton is an American film director, film producer, writer and artist. He is famous for dark, quirky-themed movies such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet...
's BatmanBatman (1989 film)Batman is a 1989 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, directed by Tim Burton. The film stars Michael Keaton in the title role, as well as Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl and Jack Palance...
theme and the The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
theme. Unlike the "The Book of Shadows" trilogy from the Starfall album which had the story written after the music was composed, the "The Old House on the Hill" trilogy's story was written by Olof, and it took about six months to get the song fully fleshed out and recorded. - "Too Late for Sorrow" is a tribute to Harold FaltermeyerHarold FaltermeyerHarold Faltermeyer is a German musician, keyboardist, composer and record producer.He is recognized as one of the composers/producers who best captured the zeitgeist of 1980s synth-pop in film scores...
, known for his 1986 Top GunTop GunTop Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
movie score and the "Axel FAxel F"Axel F" is the electronic instrumental theme from the 1984 film Beverly Hills Cop performed by Harold Faltermeyer. The title comes from the main character's name, Axel Foley , in the film. It topped musical charts in 1985 and remains a popular remix track. Mixes of "Axel F" topped European pop...
" electronic theme for Beverly Hills CopBeverly Hills CopBeverly Hills Cop is a 1984 American comedy-action film directed by Martin Brest and starring Eddie Murphy, Lisa Eilbacher, John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, and Ronny Cox...
.
As suggested with the album title, many of the songs on the album are based around space subjects:
- "Supernova" sings about the beauty of an exploding star (supernovaSupernovaA supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
). - The song "Cassiopeia" tells the tale of Queen CassiopeiaCassiopeia (mythology)Cassiopeia is the name of several figures in Greek mythology.-Wife of Cepheus:The Queen Cassiopeia, wife of king Cepheus of Æthiopia, was beautiful but also arrogant and vain; these latter two characteristics led to her downfall....
, wife of King CepheusCepheus, King of AethiopiaIn Greek mythology, Cepheus is the name of two rulers of Ethiopia, grandfather and grandson.Cepheus son of Belus was the son of Belus and Achiroe, making him the brother of Danaus, King of Libya, and Aegyptus, King of Egypt. He had a wife named Iope and a son who he named Agenor after his paternal...
of the mythological PhoeniciaPhoeniciaPhoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
n realm of EthiopiaEthiopia (mythology)Aethiopia first appears as a geographical term in classical sources, in reference to the Upper Nile region, as well as all the regions south of the Sahara desert. Its earliest mention is in the works of Homer: twice in the Iliad, and three times in the Odyssey...
, who claimed that both her and her daughter AndromedaAndromeda (mythology)Andromeda is a princess from Greek mythology who, as divine punishment for her mother's bragging, the Boast of Cassiopeia, was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster. She was saved from death by Perseus, her future husband. Her name is the Latinized form of the Greek Ἀνδρομέδη...
were more beautiful than all the NereidsNereidsIn Greek mythology, the Nereids are sea nymphs, the fifty daughters of Nereus and Doris, sisters to Nerites. They often accompany Poseidon and can be friendly and helpful to sailors fighting perilous storms. They are particularly associated with the Aegean Sea, where they dwelt with their father...
, the nymph-daughters of the sea god NereusNereusIn Greek mythology, Nereus was the eldest son of Pontus and Gaia , a Titan who with Doris fathered the Nereids, with whom Nereus lived in the Aegean Sea. In the Iliad the Old Man of the Sea is the father of Nereids, though Nereus is not directly named...
. To avoid the God's wrath, she sacrificed her daughter Andromeda by chaining her to a rock near the water's edge, but the Greek hero PerseusPerseusPerseus ,Perseos and Perseas are not used in English. the legendary founder of Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty of Danaans there, was the first of the mythic heroes of Greek mythology whose exploits in defeating various archaic monsters provided the founding myths of the Twelve Olympians...
saved AndromedaAndromeda (mythology)Andromeda is a princess from Greek mythology who, as divine punishment for her mother's bragging, the Boast of Cassiopeia, was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster. She was saved from death by Perseus, her future husband. Her name is the Latinized form of the Greek Ἀνδρομέδη...
, soon becoming her husband. PoseidonPoseidonPoseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon...
decided that Cassiopeia didn't deserve to escape punishment for her vainness, so he put her in the heavens as a constellation for all eternity. - "Contact" is about first contactFirst contact (science fiction)First contact is a common science fiction theme about the first meeting between humans and extraterrestrial life, or of any sentient race's first encounter with another one....
with aliens who turn out to be conquerors instead of saviors and destroy mankind. - The title track "Astronomy" deals with the power of astronomyAstronomyAstronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
. - "Antimatter" deals with the exotic properties and mystery of antimatterAntimatterIn particle physics, antimatter is the extension of the concept of the antiparticle to matter, where antimatter is composed of antiparticles in the same way that normal matter is composed of particles...
.
Another point of interest is the song "Beethoven's Nightmare" which intertwines heavy guitar riffs and classical piano melodies to tell the story of Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
writing a symphony about a tragedy that is consuming his life, while he laments about being deaf and wishing he could hear a sound "that could open my mind".
Personnel
- Jonas Heidgert - vocals (Additional drums on track 7)
- Olof Mörck - guitars (Additional keyboards on tracks 11 & 12, whispers on track 9, story on tracks 6, 10, 11 & 12)
- Nicklas Magnusson - guitars
- Christer Pedersen - bass
- Elias Holmlid - keyboards, synthesizers (Additional drums on track 11, all drums on track 12, tambourine and shaker on track 8)
- Jesse Lindskog - drums
Guest Musicians
- Elise Ryd - female vocals
- Jimmy Strimmell of Dead by AprilDead by AprilDead by April is a Swedish metal band from Gothenburg, formed in February 2007. The band consists of Jimmie Strimell, Zandro Santiago, Marcus Wesslén and Alex Svenningsson. They released their self-titled debut album in May 2009. In 2010 the two guitarists, Pontus Hjelm and Johan Olsson, left the...
- growl vocalsDeath growlA death growl, also known as death metal vocals, guttural vocals, death grunts, and harsh vocals among other names, is a vocalisation style usually employed by vocalists of the death metal and black metal music genre, but also used in a variety of heavy metal and hardcore punk subgenres.Death...
on "Antimatter" and "Direction: Perfection" - Marios IliopoulosMarios IliopoulosMarios Iliopoulos, born December 16, 1969 in Thessaloniki, Greece is an acclaimed Greek heavy metal guitarist and founder of the Greek/Swedish melodic death metal band Nightrage, and a former member of Exhumation....
of NightrageNightrageNightrage is a Greek/Swedish melodic death metal band formed by guitarist Marios Iliopoulos and his close friend Gus G. who later re-located to Gothenburg, Sweden.-Sweet Vengeance:...
- guitar solo on "Cassiopeia" - Nils-Arne Holmlid - Intro Speech on track 1
Credits
- Mixed by: Fredrik NordströmFredrik NordströmBjörn Tom Fredrik Nordström, born on 5 January 1967, is a Swedish record producer and guitar player for the heavy metal band Dream Evil. Nordström is one of the leading melodic death metal producers in Sweden, and he has worked with some of the genre's top acts, including At the Gates, Arch Enemy,...
, Patrik J. - Engineered by: Patrik J., Henrik Udd
- Mastered by: Peter In de Betou at Tailor Maid Production
- Cover Art by: Niklas SundinNiklas SundinNiklas Sundin , is a musician best known as the guitarist of bands Dark Tranquillity and Laethora. He also wrote some of the lyrics for the first three and recent two Dark Tranquillity albums and In Flames' album The Jester Race, and...
of Dark TranquillityDark TranquillityDark Tranquillity is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Gothenburg. They are one of the longest-standing bands from the original Gothenburg metal scene, and are one of the most integral pioneers of the melodic death metal genre of music.... - Band Photos by: Olle Carlsson